"Gentlemen," he said to the manager and the Upper Quarry guest, his voice was thick with emotion and the tears of thankfulness were coursing down his cheeks, "perhaps no greater gift could be bestowed on my sixty-fifth birthday than Champney Googe's return to his home--his mother--his friends--we are all his friends. Perhaps the years are beginning to tell on me, but I feel that I must excuse myself to you and go home--I want to tell my wife. I will explain all to you, as strangers among us, some other time; for the present I must beg your indulgence--joy never kills, but I am experiencing the fact that it can weaken." "That's all right, Colonel," said the manager; "we understand it perfectly and it's late now." "I'll go, too, Colonel," said Octavius; "I'm going to take Uncle Jo home in the trap." Luigi Poggi helped the Colonel into his great coat. When he left the room with his prospective father-in-law, his handsome face had not regained the color it lost upon the first mention of Champney's name. Emlie and Wiggins remained a few minutes to explain as best they could the situation to the stranger guests, and the cause of the excitement. "I remember now hearing about this affair; I read it in the newspapers--it must have been seven or eight years ago." "Six years and four months." Mr. Wiggins corrected him. "I guess it'll be just as well not to spread the matter much among the men--they might kick; besides he isn't, of course, a union man." "There's one thing in his favor," it was Emlie who spoke, "the management and the men have changed since it occurred, and there are very few except our home folks that would be apt to mention it--and they can be trusted where Champney Googe is concerned." The four went out together. The grill room of The Greenbush was empty save for Augustus Buzzby who sat smoking before the dying fire. Old visions were before his eyes--one of the office on a June night many years ago; the five friends discussing Champney Googe's prospects; the arrival of Father Honore and little Aileen Armagh--so Luigi had at last given up hope in that direction for good and all. The town clock struck twelve. He sighed heavily; it was for the old times, the old days, the old life. VIII It was several months before Aileen saw him. Her close attendance on Mrs. Champney and her avoidance of the precincts of The Gore--Maggie complained loudly to Mrs. Googe that Aileen no longer ran in as she used to do, and Mrs. Caukins confided to her that she thought Aileen might feel sensitive about Luigi's engagement, for she had been there but twice in five months--precluded the possibility of her meeting him. She excused herself to Mrs. Googe and the Sisters on the ground of her numerous duties at Champ-au-Haut; Ann and Hannah were both well on in years and Mrs. Champney was failing daily.